How to Offer Optionality and Set Proper Customer Exectations with Patrick Nikoletich and Nima Elyassi-Rad

eCom Logistics Podcast

For this episode of the eCom Logistics Podcast, we welcome Patrick Nikoletich and Nima Elyassi-Rad, the CTO and the Vice President of Global Business Development of Shippo respectively. We sit with the amazing duo to talk about understanding fulfillment from different perspectives, creating a great delivery experience, and the innovations shaping the space for businesses and consumers alike.

ABOUT PATRICK AND NIMA

Patrick is a technology executive and founder. He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Shippo managing both product and engineering organizations. Previously, he served as the VP of Product at Truveta focused on developing AI/ML applications to improve the outcomes of patients receiving treatments, at Microsoft in Azure and AI & Research divisions as an engineering and program manager, and working for and leading small businesses developing applications with larger enterprises. In his spare time he enjoys skiing, riding motorcyles and hiking in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two dogs.

Nima, on the other hand, is a technology executive, investor, and founder. He currently serves as the VP of Business Development at Shippo. Previously, he started a soccer brand, spent time as a VC, knows how to sling pizza, and put in time on the 1st and 2s as a Hip Hop radio DJ.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 02:25 Logistics from a cost and customer experience perspective
• 09:25 You don't need to have an Amazon-like delivery experience especially early on.
• 15:14 Many copycat brands will start going away.
• 21:13 Innovations and their practical applications in the eCom space today.

QUOTES

03:53 Any warehouse shipper has to consider someone to be their infrastructure - Nima: "Tech forward folks don't like it, you come for the integration and you stay for the switching cost because it's too expensive to rip something out. But in reality, things are breaking down. So when you are picking a new partner, I think it's important to really vet them to understand are they enterprise-ready and what that readiness means for your organization."

23:12 AI and ML applications have been "invading" everyone's lives for many years - Patrick: "The thing that you have to recognize is that 85-90% of ideas around AI and ML applications will probably fail, they won't return any meaningful value and won't be used as something stand-alone that can drive growth and revenue for your business but really the power is in how they augment capabilities."

Find out more about amazing guests in the links below:

• About Patrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-nikoletich-99a42918/
• About Nima: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nima3rad/
• Website: https://goshippo.com/